Lifestyle change: Key to the sweet life

MANILA, Philippines - You don’t have to be in the dark when it comes to diabetes  being aware about it is the first major step in order to enjoy quality life.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that the prevalence of diabetes is increasing rapidly in Asia than anywhere else. In the Philippines, there are about four million diabetics, but out of the one million Filipinos who know they have the disease, only an estimated 250,000 are doing something about it. So before any complication sets in, a diabetic should adopt helpful measures. Being practical is wise so for starters, having a regular consultation to keep your blood sugar in check is ideal. Ensuring stable sugar levels can help you live a longer and healthy life  free from stroke, fatigue, etc. Sugar count is the biggest issue so knowing what makes your sugar level rise and fall is important.

Essentially, managing diabetes involves lifestyle change, but it doesn’t have to be too drastic. Healthy eating is important but it’s not just what you eat that affects your blood sugarhow much you eat and when you eat matters, too. Fortunately, Diabetasol, a leading nutrition powder for diabetics and partner in health, is pointing people in the right direction.

Here are some helpful tips from Diabetasol with regard to lifestyle change:

• Be consistent in portions. One’s blood sugar level is highest an hour or two after a meal, and then it starts to fall. But this predictable pattern can work to your advantage. Simply eating about the same amount of food at about the same time every day helps.

• Even out the carbs. Carbohydrates have a bigger effect on your system’s sugar level than does protein or fat. Eating the same portion of complex carbohydrates more or less at each meal (or snack) will help keep your sugar level steady throughout the day.

A health check-up during the Diabetasol Breakfast Club, which provides information about diabetes and aims to screen those at risk

• Burn that extra sugar. When you exercise, your muscles use glucose for energy. Regular physical activity also improves your body’s response to insulin. These factors work together to improve one’s sugar level.

• Coordinate meals and medication intake. Too little food in comparison to your diabetes medications, especially insulin, may result in dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Too much food, on the other hand, may cause blood sugar level to climb (hyperglycemia). Just aim to strike a balance.

To help generate awareness about the importance of lifestyle change among diabetics, Diabetasol mounted a year-round advocacy campaign to promote constant morning exercises: low-impact activities for senior citizens, high-impact sets for younger participants, regular doctor’s check-up, and more importantly, a proper and balanced diet to include Diabetasol to help regulate blood sugar level.

Part of the campaign was the creation of the Diabetasol Breakfast Club (DBC) to regularly provide important information for the growing number of diabetics about their affliction. By touching base with diabetes clubs in Metro Manila, DBC also aims to screen people at risk and those who don’t know yet that they have the disease.

This year, DBC has approximately 158 club activations held in major cities of Metro Manila, including areas like Cavite and Antipolo. The good news is that DBC has expanded its care program to cover not just diabetics groups but also senior citizens associations as well as fitness groups.

Diabetasol is a safe, specially-formulated food drink based on ADA Standards, a delicious breakfast and snack health habit designed to help reduce the risks of diabetic complication. It provides the 13 essential vitamins and contains at least 10 minerals that are important to daily nutrition, with great flavors the diabetic can now enjoy: chocolate, cappuccino, and vanilla.